AN INNOCENT father-of-three dramatically acquitted of the murder of Jeffrey Rostigina spoke of his relief when his name was cleared.

Roofer Peter Crutcher exclusively revealed how he is battling to rebuild his shattered life after a feud with a neighbouring family erupted into violence last year and turned his world upside down.

After 11 months on remand in custody, the 47-year-old from New Milton walked free from the trial into the murder of the New Forest grandfather when the jury was directed by the judge to find him not guilty.

But he revealed he was devastated when the jury convicted his ex-lover Ginette Crutcher, the mother of his three children, who changed her name to Crutcher by deed poll, for murder.

"When I was in prison I worried, because you hear stories about people who get jailed for things they haven't done," said Mr Crutcher, who has lived in the town since he was 15.

"Of course it was a relief to know that I had been found not guilty of murder, but I just felt empty because I was leaving my family there.

"I was absolutely gutted when I heard what happened.

"There is so much going through my head at the moment.

"It has been a frightening experience and now I am just taking each day at a time, but it's really hard.

"I don't want anyone feeling sorry for me, but I have been a victim in this too. I have had sleepless nights, but at the end of the day I knew I had done nothing wrong."

Mr Crutcher, who is sleeping on a friend's sofa, praised his family and friends for their unwavering support while he was on trial in Southampton. He said his boss of 26 years offered him his old job back and he started work again two days after he left prison.

First published: February 1